THEME = Remake Wednesday: original (Dolly Parton) & cover (Whitney Houston)

Today’s feature is “I Will Always Love You”….

#1 (original)
Written by the Locust Ridge TN-native singer-songwriter-guitarist-actress Parton for her partner & mentor Porter Wagoner, this song was released 04/06/1974, spent 15 weeks on the country charts & claimed #1, earning her the Hall Of Fame Grammy. 8 years later, she released a slightly different version (my favorite) for the 1982 movie ‘The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas’. That version also claimed #1 on the country charts, but then crossed over & reached #53 on the Billboard Hot 100. Then, in September 1995, she released a duet version with Vince Gill; that single reached #15 on the country charts & won the pair the CMA Vocal Event award.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS-F4rfU4ns

#2 (cover)
Houston recorded her version for the 1992 film ‘The Bodyguard’. The lead single from that movie soundtrack was supposed to have been Houston’s version of “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted”, but when that song was said to be used for the movie ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’, Houston insisted on a different song. Kevin Costner suggested this song, which was then re-arranged by David Foster as an R&B ballad. Released 11/03/1992 from the film’s soundtrack, this version claimed #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a then-record 14 weeks in early 1993. It also remained at the top of the Adult Contemporary chart for 5 weeks & the R&B chart for 11 weeks. This single also reached the top spot of charts in 16 other countries.